In Florida, Foster Wheeler (FWLT) announced that its Global Engineering and Construction Group has completed its initial testing of PetroAlgae’s biomass.

According to Foster Wheeler, “initial test results demonstrate that biomass, mixed with vacuum residue, yields additional valuable hydrocarbons as a result of biomass carbohydrate and lipid decomposition. Further testing and engineering development is underway to optimize process parameters and feedstock blend ratios.”

The combination of PetroAlgae’s biomass production system, and Foster Wheeler’s SYDEC delayed coking technology, is being designed with the intent to allow the delayed coker to incorporate biomass into the coker feedstock, with minimal configuration changes to an existing unit.

“These results could lead to a change in the way refineries look at biofuels in the future,” said Foster Wheeler COO Umberto della Sala. “We believe this presents a commercially scalable source of biomass which produces a true ‘drop in’ feedstock which is compatible with the entire existing transportation fuel infrastructure.”